The public health discussion of the effects of overturning Roe v Wade in June 2022 extend beyond the number of abortions, where and how people are having abortions, maternal mortality, or even infant mortality. The discussion includes how some restrictions on abortion may harm the mental health of those having or seeking abortions, as well as have the most serious effects on the mental health of females from marginalized groups. A recent study published by Zandberg and colleagues found that states that enacted more restrictive abortion policies between 1974 and 2016 had higher rates of suicide among women of reproductive age but not among those who have passed reproductive age. The authors hypothesize that these observed effects of increased anxiety and stress may be because it is harder to access an abortion. The Zandberg et al findings are provocative and suggest that research in the current context after the Dobbs decision such as that published in this issue of JAMA is warranted.
